Melbourne trip on the cards for Carry Me Bluey

A possible trip to Melbourne in the Spring is on the cards for Toowoomba galloper Carry Me Bluey if he can reproduce his winning form at Eagle Farm on Saturday which saw him back in the winner’s circle over the Grafton Cup Carnival last week.

Carry Me Bluey was back to his best when he produced his customary flying finish to take out the $50,000 Black Auto South Grafton Cup (1600m) on July 8 for apprentice Alannah Fancourt.

Downs trainer Norm Hilton will consider a southern trip if Carry Me Bluey can produce back to back performances that would warrant the four year old to be tested against superior opposition.

Brisbane jockey Ric McMahon will take over from Fancourt in the Listed $80,000 Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) but Hilton will be giving the same instructions, let him drop out and find his feet before easing to the outside in the straight.

“He’s a funny sort of horse to ride,” Hilton said.

“He jumps with them but then shows no speed.”

“He likes to lob along then work home down the outside and I’ll be telling Ric to ride him the same way as Alannah did at Grafton.”

Carry Me Bluey struggled to find his best form over the Winter Carnival and after running into a couple of heavy track, the four year old showed glimpses of his best form when he made up plenty of ground to be beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Firebolt in the Listed $100,000 Carlton Mid Tattersall’s Racing Club Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 23.

Hilton is not afraid to travel his horses and has ventured south previously with some success when top stable performer Bold Glance was able to sneak into third behind Sacred Choice in the 2011 Group 1 $2m Emirates Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.

“I like taking my horses away and I’m thinking of maybe taking Carry Me Bluey to Victoria this year,” Hilton said.

“For what races, I’m not too sure.”

Carry Me Bluey will be coming up against some stiff opposition at Eagle Farm on Saturday with the inform Adnocon and the Kelso Wood trained Belltone to provide a tough contest.

Adnocon broke through for his first win this Winter with a solid victory over The Sixties in the Listed $80,000 PMP Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Eagle on July 7 after a good first up third to Belltone in the Listed $175,000 City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on June 16.

Trainer Gerald Ryan had to change plans for Adnocon half way through the Carnival because of the wet tracks, but the Tattersall’s Mile has always been on the agenda.

“The original plan was to run him in the Eye Liner and then the Glasshouse at the Sunshine Coast and then into this race,” Ryan said.

“When I didn’t run him on the heavy track (in the Glasshouse) I brought him back to the 1200 metres last week to have a race under his belt.”

“He looks well, he’s very well in himself and they said he worked well up there this morning.”

Wood has brought the best out of Belltone this campaign and the six year old made it back to back feature race wins in taking out the Listed $175,000 Reed Property Group Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on June 30 and Ryan nominates him as the hardest to beat.

“It’s going to be hard to turn the tables on Belltone but my horse is very well,” Ryan said.

“He beat us at Ipswich and won well in the Glasshouse last start.”

“I don’t know what he’s like at 1600 but if ever he’s going to run it then it will probably be on Saturday.”

Belltone will have to lump the topweight of 59kg on Saturday, half a kilo more than Adnocon with Carry Me Bluey down in the weights at 55.5kg after carrying 58.5kg at Grafton.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.